Fishing-reel.



10.724,208. PATENTED MAEUsl, 1903.

E.- D. EOGKWELL.

FISHING REEL.

.APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1902.

No MODEL.

moulu UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD D. ROCKWELL, BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO4 LIBERTY BELL COMPANY, OE BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, A CORPO- RATION OF CONNECTICUT.

FlsHlNG-RE'EL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.` 724,208, dated March 31, 1903.

` Application fue@ July 29, 1902. serial No. 117,435. di@ man.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD D. ROCKWELL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fishing- Reels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fishing-reels.

One of the main objects of my invention is the provision of means whereby the brake and click devices will have no eect upon the rcel while winding the lineybut will instantly be brought into use when said line is pulled out should a strike have been made.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fishing-reel having a `handle so constructed that the reel may rotate free of said handle while the line is being drawn out,

. but will be automatically connected thereto when it is turned to wind in the line.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which now follows.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the reel, partially in section. Fig. 2 is an elevation of theside or cap plate comprising a part of the frame of the reel, on which the brake and click devices are moun ted. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the spindle of the winding-reel and the gear-wheel through which the connection between said spindle and the brake, and click devices is made. Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the handle with the spindle of the windingreel in section. Fig. 6is a perspectiveview of a click-springwhich may be employed. Fig.

7 is a longitudinal vertical section of the brake-plate. Fig..8 is a perspective repre,- sentation of the bolt upon which.the brake or dragwheel ismounted, and Fig. 9` is laperspective Viewv of the click devices detached.

Like numerals indicate similari parts Mounted upon said spindlebetween'the capplate 7 and one of the end anges 8 of the reel is a gear-wheel .9, having eccentrically- 'disposed recesses 10, with shoulders 10 formed therein for the reception of balls 11, which are normally carried in a transverse bore 12 of spindle 5, said balls being wheg the reel is turned in one direction centrifugally thrown into the recesses 10 and bearing against said shoulders 10 to lock the gear 9 to the spindle 5 and permitting the spindle to rotate idly without turning said gear 9 while being turned in theopposite direction to wind A against a slightly-,bowed friction-plate 21,'se-

cured by screws 22 to the` cap-plate 7, said friction-plate also serving to aid in retaining in position a click-spring 23, which passes under it, and the bent end 23 of which is then inserted in, a recess 24 0f the cap-plate 7. Thelheaded stud 15 hasa squared portion 15 where it'pass'es through the friction- 'plate 2l, and in virtue of this `construction said stud is prevented from turning when the thumb-nut 18 is rotate'd,' thereby serving to `clampthe gear 14 between the `head ofstud 15 and the friction-'plate 21 to give a frictional resistance to the rotation of gear 14 necessary to cause thedesired degree of drag upon the' line.

The free ends of the click-spring 23 are-upturn'ed at 232 238 and bear upon either side of an extension V25 of the click. This click comprises a hub 26, having the pawl 25, said hub being mounted upon a sleeve 27, which in turn is threaded upon a stud 28, passing through a slot 29 of the capplate 7 and headed at '28' upon the exterior thereof, a washer 30 being interposed between said cap-plate and the click 26. In Figs. 1 and 2 the click is shown in its retracted position or out of engagement with the teeth of the gear 9, and when it is desired to throw said click into its operative position the head 28 is forced toward the gear 9, the barrel of the stud 28 sliding in the slot 29. This action serves to bring the pawl 25 into engagement with the teeth of the gear 9, all of the click devices being held against accidental displacement by the upturned ends 232 233 of the Clickspring, which enter recesses 31 31', formed at the juncture of hub 26 with said pawl25. Topreventaccidentaldisplacement of the hub 26 from the sleeve 27, said sleeve is iianged at 27.

Loosely mounted upon the spindle 5 at its end opposite the gear 9 is a handle 35, comprising a crankarrn 3G and the knob 37. This crank-arm is longitudinally recessed or channeled at 36 to receive the elements for l0cking the handle to the spindle of the reel when it is desired to wind in the line or for automatically disconnecting said handle from the spindle when it is desired to employafree reel, said locking elements comprising a ratchet-wheel 38, mounted upon a squared pbrtion of the spindle 5, which cooperates with alockiug-slide 39, having the extensions 39 392 and the pawl-extension 40. A stud 41, upon which the knob 37 is threaded, has a head 42, having recesses or notches 43 formed therein, and said stud is located in the outer end of the recess 36'.

Designated by 44 is a link having hooked ends 44 442, said hooked end 44' engaging the notches 43, while the end 442 engages the under side of the projection 39 of the locking dog or slide 39, as best illustrated in Fig. 5. Bearing against the link 44 and the pawl 40 of slide 39 is a spring 45, said spring serving a purpose hereinafter described.

After the parts just described have been asselnbled in the handle they are secured in the channel 36 thereof by a plate 46, which may he of transparent material, said plate being fastened to the handle by a rivet 47.

The operation of my improved reel is as follows: Should the line have been run out at the start and a [ish have taken the hook and started to run with it, the click, which has been moved into its operative position, will sound the alarm, and then the desired tension or drag may be placed upon the line by tightening the thumb-screw 18, thereby binding the gear 14 against the friction-plate 21, as hereinbefore described. As soon as the fish starts to run with the line the handle 36 is moved backward, or to the right in Fig. 5, which causes the knob 37 and the stud 41 to turn to the left in said figure in relation to the handle. When this is done, the link 44, through its engagement with the notches 43 of said stud, will withdraw the locking dog or slide from its engagement with the ratchet 38, thereby permitting the reel to rotate freely while the handle remains stationary,vand as soon as the sh ceases to run the first movement of the handle (to the left in Fig. 5) preparatory to winding in the line will, through the mechanism described, connect the handle to the spindle of the reel, and the line may then be Wound in as rapidly as desired. By exerting a lateral pressure upon the handle 3G said handle is to a certain extent bound between the ratchet 38 and a washer 50, which is secured to the spindle 5 by a screw 5l, this binding action serving to produce a drag upon the reel through the handle 36.

Heretofore with some constructions it has been necessary to wind in the line against the tension of whatever drag may have been applied to it while the fish was running out, and the present invention is particularly designed to obviate this objectionable feature of lishing-reels as at present constructed, and to this end I have provided the hereinbefore-de scribed means of locking the spindle 5 to the gear-wheel 9. Whenever the line is running out, the spindle 5 is turning in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3, and the ball 11 is centrifugally thrown into recess 10 and bearing against the shoulder 10 of gear-wheel 9 carries it also in the same direction, and since the click and brake devices are both operated through said gear-wheel it will be seen that singly or together they will be effective as the line runs out whenever operatively connected. When, however, theoperator starts to wind in the line while the click and brake, or either of them, may be operatively connected, the balls 11 roll along the inclined walls of the recess 10, thus leaving the spindle 5 free to rotate without carrying the gear wheel 9 with it, and thereby preventing the resistance of said click or brake during the winding in of the line. It will be seen that although thehandle may be suddenly dropped there will be no necessity for thumbing the line, as the fish will not be able to get any slack line while said brake and click are operatively connected. By this automatic clutchand-release device the main object of my invention is accomplished--viz., a brake and click that will continue to operate after being once connected While the line is running out, but neither of which will offer any resist-ance while the line is coming in.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I have illustrated a modified form of means for locking the gear-wheel 9 to the spindle 5. In this form said spindle is provided with a recess 52, in which is seated a spring 53, bearing against a ball 11', and in virtue of this construction the ball is thrown out by the spring no matter what may be the position of the reel.

It will be seen that by providing the spring 45 in the handle 35 said spring will serve to force the locking slide or dog into engagement with the ratchet 38 when the link 44 is thrown downward by the turning of the stud 41.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided simple and efficient means for automatically connecting the click and brake devices to the spindle of the reel vwhen the line is running out and for likewise IOO IIO

disconnecting said click and brake devices from the spindle when said line is being wound in, and while the combination of elements herein shown and described vaccomplishes this purpose very efficiently it is to be distinctly understood, as before Stated, that my invention is not limited to the lexact construction illustrated, for it includes Within its purview modiiied means for automatically connecting or disconnecting the click and brake devices to or from the. spindle of the winding-reel, and, if desired, the brake may be applied direct to gear-Wheel 9 instead of having a separate gear-Wheel for that purpose. Likewise other forms of click and clicksprings may be substituted forvthose shown without departure from'the invention. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a fishing-reel having a chambered spindle, of a gear loosely mounted upon said spindle and provided with a recess having a Wall eccentric to the axis thereof, said recess terminating in a shoulder; a device mounted in the spindle, and adapted automatically to engage the shoulder of the gear-recess when the spindle is rotated in one direction, and to be disengaged from said shoulder when the spindle is rotated in an opposite direction; and means for applying resistance to said gear. y

2. The combination, with a shing-reel, of a spindle having a bore at one of its ends; a roller mounted in said bore; a device sleeved upon the bored end of the spindle and having a recess of greater amplitude than the spindle, said recess having a shoulder With which the roller is adapted toengage when the spindle is rotatedby the running out of the line; and` click and brake elements cooperating withsaid device.

3. In a lishing-reel, the combination, with a spindle having a bore, of a roller mounted in said boreglagear element loose upon the spindle and having a recess of greater amplitude than the diameter of said spindle, said recess having `a shoulder with which the roller is adapted to engage; a wheel in engagement with said gear element; and a click adapted to be 'actuated by the gear element.

4. In a fishing-reel, the combination with the reel-spindle having-,a bore, of a toothed gear loose on the spindle and having a chamber surrounding the bore, said chamber being of greater amplitude than the diameter of the spindle; a device tted in the bore of the spindle; means on the gear-Wheel for engaging said device when the spindle is rotated in one direction; a toothed brake-wheel in engagementwith the gear of the spindle; a click actuated by said spindle gear- Wheel; and means for applying pressure to said brakewheel When it is desired to resist the movement ot the reel-spindle.

5. In a fishing-reel, the combination, With a reel-spindle having a bore in its end, of a toothed gear provided With recesses, each of said recesses having a shoulder; a device mounted in the bore of the spindle'and adapted to be thrown out to engage one of the shoulders when the spindle is actuated in a certain direction, and to recede from said shoulder When the spindle is actuated in an opposite direction; a brake-Wheel in engagement with the gear of the spindle; a brake; means for applying the brake to said brake-Wheel; and

:a clickin engagement With said gear-Wheel.

6. The combination, with a reel, of a reelspindle, a gear loose upon said spindle; means for automatically connecting said gear to the spindle when the latter is turned in one direction, and for automatically disconnecting it therefrom when rotated in an opposite di- `rection; and a brake-Wheel in engagement `with said gear.

7. In a tshingreel, the combination, with a reel-spindle, of a gear loose on said spindle;A

means for automatically connecting said gear with the spindle when it is turned in one direction, and for disconnecting it therefrom when it is turned in an opposite direction; a brake-Wheel in engagement with said gear;

`and a click controlled by said gear.

9. In a fishing-reel, the combination, With a reel-spindle, of a gear-wheel loose thereon and having an eccentric recess provided with a shoulder; means operative in said recess for automatically connecting and disconnecting said gear-wheel to thespindlet a click coperating with said gear-wheel; and a brake for A controlling, through said gear-Wheel, the motion of the spindle.

l0. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a chambered reel -spindle, of a` gear- Wheel loose on said spindle, and having an eccentric recess provided with a shoulder; a ball seated in a chamber of said spindle, and adapted to engage said shoulder of the recess in the gear- Wheel when the spindle is turned in one direction, and to permit the spindle to rotate without actuating the gear-Wheel when it is turned in an opposite direction; and a brake for retarding the movement of said spindle.

Y 11. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a chambered reel-spindle, of a gear-Wheel loose on said spindle, and having an eccentric recess provided With a shoulder; a ball seated in a chamber of said spindle and adapted to engage said shoulder of therecess in the gear- Wheel when the spindle 4is turned in one drection, and to permit the spindle to rotate Without actuating the gear-Wheel when it is turned in an opposite direction; a brake for retarding the movement of said spindle; and a click cooperating with the gear-wheel.

IIC

12. In a shing-reel, the combination, With a reel-spindle, of a gear-wheel loosely monnted on said spindle; means for` automatically connecting and disconnectiugsaid gear-wheel to the spindle; and a brake-wheel in engagement with said gear-wheel.

13. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a reel-spindle, of a gear-wheel loosely mounted on said spindle; means for automatically connecting and disconnecting said gear-wheel to the spindle; a brake-wheel in engagement with said gear-wheel; and a click also engaging the gear-wheel.

14. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a spindle, of afriction-plate; aclick-spring secured to the reel-frame by said plate; a click cooperating with said spring; and a clickwheel.

15. In a fishing-reel the combination, with a reel-spindle, of a gear-wheel carried by said spindle; a click in engagement with said gearwheel on one side of said spindle; a brakewheel in engagement with said gear-wheel on the other side of said spindle; a friction-plate; means for securing said friction-plate to the frame of the reel; and a click-spring held in place by said friction-plate.

16. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a reel-spindle having a chamber, of a ball located in said chamber; a gear-wheel loose upon the spindle and provided with eccentric recesses having shoulders; and a brake-wheel in engagement with said gear-wheel.

17. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a chamber-ed spindle, of a ball seated in the chamber of said spindle; a gear-wheel loose upon the spindle, and having an eccentric recess, the recess of said gear-wheel terminating in a shoulder or abutment; and a spring iu the chamber pressing against the ball.

18. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a chambered spindle, of a gear-wheel having an eccentric recess terminating in a shoulder or abutment; a ball located in the chamber of the spindle, and adapted to engage with said shoulder when the spindle is turned in one direction; a brake-wheel in engagement with the gearwheel of the spindle; and a movable click also adapted to engage with the spindle-gear.

19. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a reel-spindle, of a toothed wheel secured to said spindle; a handle; a movable pawl carried by the handle and adapted to engage said toothed Wheel to rotate the spindle in one direction; a gear loosely mounted upon the spindle; means for automatically connecting said gear to and disconnecting it from the spindle; and brake and click devices coperating with said gear.

20. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a winding-spindle, of a gear-wheel loose on said spindle; a brake for restraining the motion of said gear-wheel; means for automatically connecting-said gear-wheel to and disconnectingit from the spindle; ahandle loose upon the spindle; means for connecting said handle to the spindle upon one motion thereof; and means carried by the spindle, and against which the handle may be forced, to also restrain the motion thereof.

2l. In a iishing-reel, the combination, with a spindle, of a click-wheel carried by said spindle; a stud movable in aslot of the spindle-frame; an interiorly threaded cylinder upon said stud; a click-sleeve located on said cylinder, and having a pawl or click adapted to engage the click-wheel; and a spring bearing against said click-sleeve.

22. In a fishing-reel, the combination, with a winding-spindle, of a gear-wheel loose on said spindle; means for automatically connecting and disconnecting said gear-wheel to and from the spindle; a brake-wheel in engagement with the gearwheel; a frictionplate or brake bearing against said wheel; means for securing said friction-plate to the reel-frame; a click-spring held in position by said friction-plate; and a click controlled by said click-spring.

23. In a Iishing-reel, the combination, with a chambered spindle to which the end plates of the reel are secured, of a device mounted in the chamber of said spindle; an element loose upon the spindle, said element having an eccentric recess provided with a shoulder adapted to be engaged by said device when the spindle is rotated in one direction and to be disengaged therefrom when the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction; a retarding device coperating with said element; and means for actuating said retarding device to throw it into and out of action.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD D. ROCKWELL. Witnesses:

EMMA W. FISH, RUTH MCPHERSON.

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